London Police Warn Taxi Drivers on Uber Protest

A smartphone screen shows the London version of the Uber car-service app, which London cabdrivers plan to protest against Wednesday.

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Scotland Yard has warned London’s black-cab drivers that their planned protest Wednesday against the taxi app Uber could be illegal.

In a letter posted on the Metropolitan Police’s Twitter account, a police commander said the department hadn’t received a legally required official notification of the protest, which is expected to involve thousands of black-cab drivers in the middle of the afternoon and clog central London.

“If no notification is made we may have to impose conditions on any anticipated demonstration, without considering your wishes and views, to reduce the risk of serious disruption and consequent danger arising out of interference with the work of the emergency services,” the letter from Commander Peter Terry said. “Those failing to comply with any imposed conditions will place themselves at the risk of arrest and prosecution.”

“Oh dear, I’m just trembling here,” McNamara said as he read the letter out loud to himself when a reporter called.

McNamara said his group wasn’t technically organizing the protest, although it has been promoting it through its Twitter account and on its website, and communicating in other ways with its more than 10,000 driver members to encourage participation.